The $21,000 Video Clip
Imagine, if you will, an instagram post. It is a single clip that lasts 25 seconds. It’s not the detonation of a nuclear bomb. It’s not an FPV drone flying through the altar as the couple shares their first kiss. Imagine a 25 second clip of a bride and groom looking at each other. Maybe they kiss, maybe they smile or laugh, or maybe they just say “I love you.” Why haven’t you seen this instagram post before? The answer is because most people who do what I do will never take the time to record something like that. Yet, I have quite a few shots like that in my backlog because to me those special yet seemingly mundane moments are when you can really feel the personality of a couple shine through.
Sure, I like to do the flying gimbal shots and the twirling and the occasional slow motion dip. These are very satisfying shots. But, some of my favorite shots rely solely on light and the accidental film-like moment. This type of shot is only obtainable by recording when you aren’t paying attention to me. This is what a lot of couples refer to when they say “candid” shots. But, so often what we see in wedding content is not actually candid but in fact it’s heavily posed and structured.
I’ve been able to amass a number of these types of shots which I like to call “Loops” by simply paying close attention to how the light and the environment create a frame around the couple I’m working with. While a groomsmen is chugging his beer or a plane is flying by overhead, I’m still working to capture a special moment that can’t be scripted. I do this so that you’ll never forget how you really felt on this day, especially when you’re standing together in between major schedule lines just looking at each other like, “…wow, I guess this is real, isn’t it?”
And yeah, it is real. Most of life is just waiting for the next thing to happen. So, while you’re waiting, it’s nice to have someone you like wait with you. And that first time you realize you’ll never be waiting alone… that’s why I’m filming you during those quiet, boring moments.
